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Free Wisconsin Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale

Wisconsin is a permissive-firearms state: no permit-to-purchase, no waiting period, no state registry, no assault-weapons ban, and no magazine-capacity limit. Private-party transfers between Wisconsin residents who are not prohibited persons require no background check under state law (federal law still bars knowingly transferring to a prohibited person). FFL handgun transfers run a Wisconsin DOJ Firearms Database check; long-gun transfers run NICS only. Concealed carry still requires a Wisconsin CCW permit — Wisconsin has not adopted constitutional carry.

Wisconsin Requirements: If the vehicle will be operated, WisDOT says the buyer should title and register it within two business days after purchase (Wis. Stat. §341.04(1)(bm)2). 5% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Gun / Firearm Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

Important: Federal and state laws may require a background check for firearm transfers. This bill of sale does not replace any legal requirements for background checks, waiting periods, or other regulations. Please consult your local laws before completing this transaction.

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Private firearm sales carry more legal requirements than most buyers realize — background check laws, waiting periods, and prohibited-person rules vary widely by state. Our guide explains when a bill of sale is legally required and what it must say. Read: Do I Need a Bill of Sale? →

Wisconsin Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Agency
WI DOJ
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Primary ID Field
Serial Number
Sales Tax
Exempt
Title Required
No
Firearms have no title in Wisconsin. A bill of sale documenting make, model, caliber, serial number, buyer, seller, and date is the standard ownership record for private transfers. Wisconsin is a "permissive" gun-law state with no statewide registry.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

Private-party firearm sales in Wisconsin between non-dealers are generally not subject to state sales tax. Sales through a licensed FFL dealer are subject to 5% state sales tax plus 0.5% county tax. Wisconsin does not impose a separate firearms or ammunition excise tax beyond the federal 10–11% Pittman-Robertson excise tax (paid by manufacturers).

Inspection Requirements

Wisconsin private-party firearm transfers do not require a state background check. FFL dealer transfers run a state DOJ Firearms Database check (Wisconsin's state-level system) plus the federal NICS check, and the DOJ handgun check can take up to five business days — the dealer may not hand over the handgun until DOJ approves. Wisconsin eliminated the 48-hour handgun waiting period in 2015. Long-gun (rifle, shotgun) transfers at FFLs require only NICS, not the state DOJ check.

Wisconsin Gun / Firearm Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Verify the buyer is a Wisconsin resident, age 18+ (federal law bars handgun transfers to anyone under 18; the age-21 handgun rule applies only to dealers), and not a prohibited person under federal/state law
  2. Bill of sale: make, model, caliber, serial number, buyer name and address, seller name and address, and date
  3. Both parties keep signed copies for their records (no state filing required)
  4. Optional but recommended: ask for the buyer's Wisconsin driver's license or CCW permit and note the number
  5. For interstate sales: federal law requires the transfer go through an FFL in the buyer's home state
  6. For NFA items, check ATF's current rules at atf.gov/nfa before any transfer. Machine guns still need ATF approval and the $200 tax, and Wisconsin law also restricts them (Wis. Stat. § 941.26). Since October 9, 2026, ATF no longer requires approval or registration for suppressors and short-barreled rifles and shotguns (their tax has been $0 since January 1, 2026). But in Wisconsin, having a suppressor is a Class H felony unless you have complied with the federal licensing and registration rules (§ 941.298), and the same goes for short-barreled rifles and shotguns unless they are federally registered or lawful under federal law (§ 941.28). ATF changed its policy, not the federal law, so an unregistered one may still be a crime in Wisconsin. Ask a Wisconsin firearms attorney before buying or selling one.
  7. Store the bill of sale safely — your only proof if the firearm is later recovered or used in a crime

Common Pitfalls

  • Knowingly transferring to a prohibited person (felon, domestic abuser, drug user, etc.) — this is a federal felony regardless of Wisconsin's permissive laws
  • Selling any firearm (not just a handgun) to an out-of-state buyer face-to-face — federal law requires an FFL transfer in the buyer's home state
  • Assuming Wisconsin has constitutional carry — it does not. Concealed carry requires a Wisconsin CCW license (open carry of long guns/handguns is generally legal without a permit)
  • Skipping the serial number on the bill of sale — without it, the document doesn't prove which specific firearm changed hands
  • Confusing Wisconsin's eliminated 48-hour handgun wait (gone since 2015) with the federal NICS delay that can still happen at an FFL

Pro Tip

Wisconsin firearm law is permissive but not lawless: no permit, no wait, no registry — and no state background check on private transfers — but federal prohibited-person rules and CCW licensing for concealed carry still apply. A clean bill of sale with serial number is your only paper trail.

Wisconsin Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — FAQs

Do I need a background check to sell a gun in Wisconsin?
For a private-party sale between two Wisconsin residents who are not federally licensed dealers, Wisconsin state law does not require a background check. Federal law still applies: it is a felony to knowingly transfer a firearm to a prohibited person (felon, domestic abuser, drug user, illegal alien, person under domestic violence restraining order, etc.). Many private sellers voluntarily run the buyer through an FFL (for a fee) for legal protection. FFL dealer transfers always require a check — handguns through Wisconsin DOJ's state firearms database plus NICS; long guns through NICS only.
Is there a waiting period to buy a handgun in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin eliminated its 48-hour handgun waiting period in 2015 (2015 Wisconsin Act 22). Today, handgun purchases at a Wisconsin FFL are immediate once the state DOJ Firearms Database check and federal NICS check clear, which usually takes minutes. A delay can still happen: the DOJ handgun check can take up to five business days, and the dealer may not hand over the handgun until DOJ approves it. Private sales have no waiting period.
Does Wisconsin have constitutional carry?
No. As of 2026, Wisconsin requires a Concealed Weapon (CCW) license to carry a concealed handgun. The license is issued by the Wisconsin Department of Justice to applicants 21+ who pass a firearms training course and a background check. See the DOJ concealed carry site for the current fee and term. Open carry of a holstered handgun or a long gun is generally legal without any permit for adults 18+, though private property owners and many municipal buildings may ban it. Wisconsin honors many other states' permits — check the WI DOJ reciprocity list before traveling.
Can I sell a handgun to someone from Illinois or Minnesota at a Wisconsin gun show?
Not face-to-face. Federal law (18 USC 922(a)(5)) requires that private firearm sales (handguns and long guns) between residents of different states go through a federally licensed dealer (FFL) in the buyer's state of residence. You can ship the handgun to an FFL in Illinois or Minnesota, where the buyer picks it up after a NICS check and (for IL) the buyer's state requirements. A dealer may sell a long gun (rifle, shotgun) in person to a resident of another state if the sale complies with the laws of both states — Illinois requires its FOID card. Always run interstate transfers through an FFL.
What records does Wisconsin require me to keep on a private gun sale?
Wisconsin imposes no recordkeeping requirement on private firearm sellers — the state has no registry and does not require sellers to file the sale anywhere. However, keeping a signed bill of sale with the buyer's name, address, ID information, firearm make/model/serial, and date is the only protection a seller has if the firearm is later used in a crime, recovered by police, or traced. Keep the bill of sale indefinitely. Some sellers also photograph the buyer's ID and CCW permit (if any) and keep the buyer's phone number on file.

Other Wisconsin Templates

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